Santa Fe man charged with murder

A Santa Fe man was arrested and charged with killing his cousin early Monday in the 2200 block of Rancho Siringo Road, near Santa Fe High School.

Edwin Anaya, 33, was charged with firstdegree murder shortly after, police say, he fatally shot Peter Gurule after the two got into a physical altercation.

According to the criminal complaint, Anaya called 911 and reported that he had a gunshot wound and needed help. Santa Fe police said that when they located him in the area, Anaya was wearing only a jacket, socks and boxer shorts. He was bleeding from his nose and mouth and was in an “abnormal state of consciousness” and wasn’t making much sense.

After he was checked out at a local hospital, the complaint said, it was determined that Anaya had a broken nose and bruising on his chest. The complaint makes no mention of a gunshot wound.

Anaya told police officers he shot Gurule with a handgun in self defense because Gurule wouldn’t let him get away. He turned over a 9mm handgun to police and told them Gurule lived at a home on Rancho Siringo Road, about three blocks away.

While driving up the road, police saw a home with the front door open and Gurule lying dead on his back in the doorway. He had a gunshot wound to his torso and significant bruising on his arms, according to the report.

Police found Anaya’s sweatpants in the road near Gurule’s residence and a gun cartridge about 10 feet from Gurule’s body.

Police later talked to Gurule’s widow, who told them Anaya was Gurule’s “third or fourth” cousin and that her husband was a heavy drug user.

This is the third homicide in Santa Fe since the start of 2021.

Previously, Alvin Crespin was arrested for allegedly killing Virgil Tortalita at a Santa Fe hotel.

Days later, on Jan. 8, Frank Pete was found dead at an apartment complex. Police haven’t arrested anyone in that killing.